Roller skate



Oct. 8, 1935. R'WYLIE 7 2,016,847

' ROLLER SKATE v Filed Feb. 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l I nuentm' AttorneyOct. 8, 1935. R. WYLlE 2,016,847

ROLLER SKATE Filed Feb. 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Attorney Patented Oct.8, 1935 PATENT OFFWE ROLLER SKATE Robert Wylie, Corvallis, Oreg.

Application February 20, 1935, Serial No. 7,453 9Claims. (o1.20s'.17s

This invention relates; to certain improvements and structuralrefinements embodied in a novel type roller skate.

In particular, the invention has reference to 5 unique spring equippedmeans forming a support and an attaching device for that form of skateincluding pairs of front and rear rollers or wheels, the invention beinggenerally adapted to the socalled stationary or non-extensible class ofskates.

Visualized along structural lines, the preferred embodiment of theinvention incorporates in the skate, a pair of substantially duplicatefront and rear carriers for the front and rear wheel or vrollerassemblies wherein said carriers are attached to the base or frame in amanner to per mit the rollers to have bodily movement toward and fromthe base or foot plate, and to have lateral twisting and axial movementto accommodate irregularities in the surface traversed, whereby toobtain the desired compensating results calculated to promote smooth andcontrollable skating.

In addition to the foregoing double carrier arrangement novelty ispredicated upon the coordination therewith of shock absorbing andcushioning means which allows the limited self-levelling and controlaction of the foot plate due to the flexible properties embracedtherein.

By way of comparison with known types of skates, it is believed that theone constituting the subject matter of this invention transcends inefiiciency and accommodation, and embodies appreciable innovationssusceptible of justifying unqualified endorsement by the trade ingeneral.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying illustrative drawings:

In the drawings wherein-like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the improved skate as constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, with portions appearing inelevation.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View taken across one end portion toillustrate the jointing or coupling means for the roller carriers.

Figures 4 and 5 are detail perspective views.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing numerals it will beobserved that the frame, generally referred to as the foot or baseplate, is indicated by the numeral 6, this being of the stationary ornon-extensible type and being provided with a heel plate '5 at the rearand toe clamp 3 and adjusting means at the front. The front rollers orwheels are differentiated by the numerals 9 and the rear wheels at Ill.The axles which carry the wheels are represented by the numerals l i. Asbefore indicated, there is a carriage or carrier unit for each pair orset of wheels and as this is the same in each instance, it will bedescribed in the singular. The carrier unit is referred to as a Whole bythe numeral l2 and is formed from a single piece of metal. The majorpart thereof may be described as a slit or tubular sleeve it, this beinghorizontally disposed as indicated in Figure 3 to serve as a bearing forthe axle. The ends of the sleeve serve as abutments for the ball bearingequipped Wheels. The numeral it is merely a reinforcing rib and i5designates a thrust element or ear apertured to accommodate the notchedend of the bolt IS. The nut equipped end of the bolt is attached to anadjacent end of a. flat spring I l and the shank portion carries acoiled spring It. The ear [5 may be said to extend in a right angularlydisposed perpendicular position. Extending oppositely from the ear iiiis an arcuate or longitudinally bowed shank l9 which terminates in ajointing head to somewhat in the nature of a miniature ball. This'headis seated in an annular hanger 28 forming a depending part of anattaching and retention bracket 22. The bracket 22 is riveted to theunderside of the foot plate. The bracket is also apertured as at 23 toallow passage of the headed shank and to permit said shank to have therequisite vertical and axial movement or play. In fact, this arrangementprovides a sort of self-adjusting ball and socket joint and thereforeprovides a somewhat universal movement to a limited extent for theroller or wheel assemblies.

The numeral 2% designates a substantially V- shaped hanger fixture to becentrally located on the underside of the foot plate and attachedthereto by rivets 25 and a reinforcing leaf or shim 265. This allows thecentral apertured portion of the flat spring'to be bolted as indicatedat 21 to the apex part of the hanger bracket and permits the one springto serve both roller carrier units. The end portions of the spring l'lextend through guide saddles 2?. These saddles ,areof general U-shapedform as indicated in Figure 4 and provided with attaching lugs 28. The:bight or connecting portion 29- is in the form of .a narrow bar so asto provide a rest for the adjacent'end portion of the spring to preventit from twisting too freely and so as to provide clearance for the nutequipped end of the bolt 55. Hence, it will be seen that at the centerwe have a hanger bracket 2% to which the central portion of the flatspring H is attached. The ends of the spring extending through thelongitudinally spaced saddles adjacent the front and rear portions ofthe base plate, that is on opposite sides of the hanger bracket 24, Thisprovides for a well-balanced arrangement calculated to afford therequisite flexible properties and to uniformly distribute stress andstrain. In fact these parts have been carefully selected andmechanically coordinated with the thought in mind of retaining therequisite rigid and flexible properties combined.

In a sense, the spring I? serves as a thrust receiving means attached tothe floating wheel carriers l2, said wheel carriers being of a rockabletype with appropriate fulcrum action, the connections being made throughthe instrumentality of the thrust elements l5 and spring cushioningmeans it and i3.

I shall not attempt to give the scientific explanation of thediversified movement or trace in detail the bends and resistant actionof the coiled and flat spring arrangement. The broad idea is to have theself-adjusting carriers pivotally attached to the foot plate 6 at oneend and joined by flexible spring cushioning means at points betweenthemselves to the central portion of the same foot plate, all of thisbeing suflicient to carry out, in a practical and dependable way, thedesired self-levelling twisting and compensating movement for the frontand rear rollers.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the inventionafter considering the description in connection with the drawings.Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming withinthe field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a structural assembly of the class described, a base plate, a pairof wheels including a connecting axle, a bearing for said axle, saidbearing being provided with an inwardly projecting thrust element, andwith means having substantially universal connection with an adjacentportion of the plate, and spring means connected with and interposedbetween the plate and thrust element, said means including a flat springattached to the plate, a bolt connection between the thrust element andspring, and a coil spring surrounding the bolt and located between thethrust element and flat spring.

2. A roller skate comprising a base plate, a bracket secured to saidplate and including a depending part apertured and formed with alaterally projecting annular seat, a roller assembly including a pair ofrollers and a connecting axle therebetween, and a tubular sleeve forminga bearing for said axle and located between said rollers, said sleevebeing provided with an outwardly directed longitudinally curved shankextending through the aperture in said bracket and terminating in ahooked jointing head rockably and swivelly connected with said annularseat.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a carrier for a roller assemblycomprising a tubular sleeve forming a bearing for an axle, an integralapertured thrust ear attached to and projecting laterally from thecentral portion of said sleeve, and an opposed upwardly and rearwardlyprojectible shank formed integral with said sleeve, said shank beinglongitudinally curved and terminating in an enlarged hook-shapedjointing head.

4. In a structural combination of the class described, a foot plate, apair of rollers joined by an axle, a carrier for said rollers pivotallyconnected with the base plate, and spring compensating means comprisinga flat spring attached to the base plate, a guide for one end portion ofsaid flat spring, a bolt depending from said one end of the fiat springand connectible with said carrier, and a coil spring surrounding saidbolt.

5. In a structural assemblage of the class described, a base plate, acentrally disposed hanger bracket, a longitudinally elongatedhorizontally disposed flat spring attached centrally to said hangerbracket, saddles secured to the underside of the base plate on oppositesides of said bracket, the end portions of said flat spring extendingthrough and beyond said saddles, front and rear wheel assemblies, andmeans for connecting the wheel assemblies to the base plate and endportions of said flat spring.

6. In a structural assemblage of the class described, a base plate, acentrally disposed hanger bracket, a longiudinally elongatedhorizontally disposed flat spring attached centrally to said hangerbracket, saddles secured to the underside of the base plate on oppositesides of said bracket, the end portions of said flat spring extendingthrough and beyond said saddles, front and rear wheel assemblies, andmeans for connecting the wheel assemblies to the base plate and endportions of said flat spring, said means including tiltable wheelcarriers, bolts connected to said wheel carriers and attached to theends of said flat spring and coiled springs interposed between the endsof the flat spring and said wheel carriers.

'7. As a component part of a structural roller skate of the classdescribed, a hanger bracket attachable to the frame of the skate, guidebrackets also attachable to said frame, a flat spring detachablyconnected with said hanger bracket and having its end portion designedfor cooperation with said guide brackets, and bolts attached to anddepending at right angles from the end portions of said flat spring andprovided with coiled companion springs, said coil springs surroundingthe shank portions of the bolts between the heads and the ends of saidflat spring.

8. A roller skate comprising a foot plate, a bracket secured to saidplate and including a depending apertured part formed adjacent theaperture with an outstanding annular flange constituting a laterallyprojecting annular seat, a roller assembly including a pair of companionrollers and a connecting axle therebetween, a tubular sleeve surroundingand forming a bearing for said axle and confined between said rollers,said sleeve being provided with an outwardly directed longitudinallycurved shank having its terminal extending through the aperture in theaforementioned bracket and terminating in a hooked head turnable androckable in said an nular seat, said sleeve being further provided withan inwardly projecting thrust ear, a flat cushioning spring connected tosaid base plate, and an operating connection between said spring andattaching ear.

9. As a component part of a structural roller skate of the classdescribed, a substantially V- shaped hanger bracket attachable to theframe of the skate, a pair of U-shaped guide saddles, said saddles beingattachable to said frame be- .yond the ends of said bracket and alongitudinally and laterally flexing flat spring detachably connectedintermediate its ends to said hanger bracket and having its end portionsdesigned to rest slidably in said guide saddles.

ROBERT WYLIE.

